Example Projects

Question

I have been looking around for example projects to do. Not something big, but something that could help me learn a programming language more. Something to act as the next step after learning the basics and being able to make small nifty programs.

For example, i have been learning Python and C# and using Project Euler to teach myself, since i am pretty good at math and solving the problems in different languages helps you get the fundamentals in a practical way.

But i want to extend my scope of projects and haven't been able to find a site or a list of small projects you could do to challenge yourself for a few days.

Any of you know of such a list?

Answer 1

This thread has some nice application programming ideas for beginners. (notepad, file encryptors, password managers, time trackers... a whole lot)

Answer 2

Take an open source project, or part of one, in a language you know and convert it to the one you want to learn.

Answer 3

Try to make imitation versions of apps loaded with windows (Calc, Paint, Wordpad, etc...).

Answer 4

Contribute to an open source project.

Answer 5

Whenever I'm learning a new language I implement basic data structures (even if they're provided in a standard library or as part of the language syntax such as python).

1. Its a project domain I already know making the language the only unknown, versus say trying to make a project dealing with a subject I'm not intimately familiar with in which there's two possible problems.
2. Its good to brush up on the basics ever now and then. Also good to keep fresh in case you land a google interview.

I'd recommend building a stack, queue, heap, binary tree, graph+searching.

Answer 6

There are some suggestions in Good Practice Projects to Improve Programming Skills. Especially Dan Dyer's answer.

Answer 7

Algorithm puzzles on TopCoder.com are always a good way to learn and have fun. C# is one of the available languages.